In India Post’s Speed Post , the reference number is the same as the consignment number or tracking number printed on your Speed Post receipt. It is a unique 13‑character alphanumeric code that lets both the sender and the receiver track the exact location and status of the parcel online or via SMS.

What the reference number looks like

For India Post Speed Post, the reference / tracking number usually follows this pattern:
E K 403807171 I N (without spaces in the real code).

Breakdown of the 13 characters:

  • 1st letter (e.g., E) = Speed Post service indicator.
  • 2nd letter (e.g., K) = state or sender type (state code or bulk‑sender type).
  • Next 9 digits = unique serial number for that parcel.
  • Last 2 letters (e.g., IN) = destination country (for domestic, it is usually IN for India).

You will see this reference number on the white Speed Post label stuck on your parcel and on the counter‑receipt you get from the post office.

What this reference number is used for

  • Tracking your parcel
    You can enter the 13‑digit reference number on the India Post tracking website or other tracking portals to see real‑time updates such as: booked, dispatched, in transit, out for delivery, and delivered.
  • Complaints or proof of posting
    If your Speed Post is delayed, lost, or damaged, this number is required to register a complaint and to prove that the item was actually booked through Speed Post.
  • Sharing with the receiver
    Giving this reference number to the receiver lets them check the status themselves and anticipate the delivery.

Quick‑scoop table

Part of reference number| Example| Meaning
---|---|---
1st letter| E| Speed Post service article. 35
2nd letter| K| State or sender type (e.g., Karnataka or bulk sender). 35
9 digits| 403807171| Unique parcel ID used for tracking. 35
Last 2 letters| IN| Destination country (India). 13

So in short: the reference number in Speed Post is the 13‑digit tracking code that identifies your parcel and allows you to monitor its journey from booking to delivery.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.